In the last ten years, Microsoft has made significant efforts to project a more approachable image in the technology sector. This is partly due to their commitments and actions regarding environmental issues, along with their focus on diversity, accessibility, and promoting inclusivity.
Regardless of the positive impacts (or lack thereof) these initiatives might have had, Microsoft’s actions consistently prioritize financial gain over everything else. Recently, this approach has placed Microsoft in the eye of a new tempest of debate due to its backing of Israel.
At Microsoft functions, employees have caused disturbances to highlight concerns about the company’s interactions with Israel and its armed forces, specifically the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Critics allege that the IDF has been guilty of targeting innocent civilians and children indiscriminately during their conflicts with Hamas. Hamas was responsible for a series of terror attacks at a music festival in 2023, as well as hostage-taking incidents. The IDF is currently under international scrutiny for possible war crimes allegations, including investigations by Israel itself.
In May, Microsoft acknowledged providing technological resources to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Critics argue that this makes Microsoft appear more like a company benefiting from war situations, an accusation further strengthened by a recent report from United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
At the behest of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Albanese claims that Microsoft and other major technology companies are persistently growing their cloud systems within Israeli military installations, amassing billions in profits while thousands of unprotected Gazan civilians endure displacement and hardship. For a comprehensive understanding, delve into the report provided here.
The report states that Microsoft has been actively involved in Israel since 1991, establishing its largest center outside the U.S. Microsoft’s technologies are widely used by government institutions such as prisons, police, universities, and schools, even in colonies. Since 2003, it has been integrating its systems with the Israeli military and civilian technology, while also acquiring Israeli start-ups focused on cybersecurity and surveillance.
With the escalating data needs from Israeli systems focused on apartheid, military operations, and population management, there has been an increasing dependence on cloud storage and computing solutions. In 2021, Israel granted Alphabet Inc. (Google) and Amazon.com, Inc. a $1.2 billion contract (Project Nimbus), primarily funded by the Ministry of Defense, to supply essential technology infrastructure.
Microsoft asserts that its business transactions with Israel follow typical commercial agreements. In the last report from May, Microsoft conducted an investigation into its own practices and discovered no instances of misconduct. The specifics of these evaluations, whether carried out internally or by external parties, have not been disclosed to the public.
After conducting a thorough examination, taking into account both self-assessments and external evaluations, we haven’t discovered any proof that Microsoft’s Azure, AI technologies, or any other software provided by us have been misused to cause harm to individuals. Furthermore, IMOD appears to be in full compliance with our terms of service and our AI Code of Conduct.
The UN report goes on to say that an Israeli colonel mentioned Microsoft Azure as a metaphorical weapon during an IT conference.
These tech giants – Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), and Amazon – are providing nearly unrestricted access to their cloud services and AI technology to the Israeli government. This move significantly boosts their data processing capabilities, aids in better decision-making processes, and enhances surveillance, analysis, and monitoring functions.
In October 2023, when Israel’s internal military cloud became overwhelmed, Microsoft and its Azure platform, along with the Project Nimbus consortium, provided essential cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure to alleviate the situation. Their servers based in Israel provide data sovereignty and protection from accountability thanks to favorable contracts that impose minimal restrictions or supervision. In July 2024, an Israeli colonel referred to cloud technology as a weapon in every sense of the word, acknowledging these companies’ roles.
As an onlooker, I’m observing a group of activists from within Microsoft, known as No Azure for Apartheid, who are urging their company to cancel all Azure contracts in Israel. They are expressing concern that Microsoft is breaching its own ethical standards by persisting in operations within Israel and other regions where human rights abuses are prevalent.
In simpler terms, Microsoft has expressed deep worry about the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza, and they are committed to providing humanitarian aid not just in those areas but throughout the Middle East as well. Back in 2022, Microsoft halted new sales in Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, and they promised over $35 million to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and provide humanitarian aid for civilians.
During Microsoft’s third quarter financial year 2025 report, they announced more than $70 billion in earnings, primarily attributed to their cloud services, resulting in a net profit of approximately $25.8 billion.
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2025-07-07 03:39